Navigating Team Dynamics: Beyond the Zero-Sum Mentality

Creating Synergy Among Teams in the Workplace

In the intricate tapestry of modern organizations, a significant challenge arises from the dynamics BETWEEN teams.

It's alarmingly frequent to observe inter-team rivalries, especially among complementary teams. Examples abound: sales vs. marketing, engineering vs. product, or merchandising vs. operations. The prevailing sentiment? A 'me versus them' mindset, epitomizing the zero-sum game.

Visualize a track. Instead of individual sprinters, each racing for their personal triumph, what organizations truly need is a relay squad—seamlessly passing the baton and unified in their pursuit of a shared objective.

The foundation to rectifying this divide? Clearly defining and communicating what success means for all involved.

In a goal-setting exercise I curated years back, after detailing yearly objectives, I prompted team members to outline the aims of their counterpart teams—those they interacted with daily and upon whom their success was hinged.

Astoundingly, many drew a blank.

This revelation spearheaded the subsequent task: delving into and grasping the goals of their counterparts.

When teams are aware of the aspirations and motivations of their peers, forging win-win situations becomes less arduous. This clarity becomes crucial as teams become more cross-functional.

To counteract or sidestep the zero-sum quagmire, consider these strategies:

Regularly Document and Reflect on the distinct objectives of collaborating teams. This holds true for annual benchmarks as well as specific projects.

Illuminate the Significance of each team's goals. Are they anchored in the broader strategic vision, organizational ethos, or perhaps driven by customer or employee engagement?

Eradicate the Ambiguous 'We' in discussions. This seemingly innocuous term can be a veiled attempt at imposing decisions. Whenever it surfaces, probe further: "Who exactly is 'We'?"

As the blueprint of the #futureofwork gets redrawn, accommodating hybrid and remote teams, it becomes paramount to crystalize success metrics to bolster efficiency, collaboration, and output.

Eager to excavate and align your team's objectives in a novel and interactive way? Dive into the IN8 Create vision workshop, harnessing the unique LEGO Serious Play approach.